Plume



(No Model.)

R. W. E. ALDRICH.

. PLUME, TASSBL, &c.

Pawnted June 19; 1838.

ATTORNEYS.

AUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH W. n. ALnRicH, or NORTHAMPTON, MAssAcHUsETTs.

PLUME, KASSEL, SLC.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,734, dated .Tune 19, 1888. Application filed November 1l, 11887. Serial No. 254.892. (No model.)

VTo all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH W. E. ALD- RIOH, of Northampton, in the county of Hampshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful. Improvement in Flumes, Tassels, and Similar Articles, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description. l

My invention relates to an improvement in plumes, tassels, rosettes, and similar articles, and has for its object to simplify the construction of such and produce a handsome, durable, and cheap device.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of the several parts hereinafter described, and specifically pointed outl in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the igures.

Figure l represents the application of a tassel embodying myimprovements` Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the tassel, and Fig. 8 is an end view of the bodyillustrating the formation thereof. Fig. 4. is a vertical section through the head of the tassel.

In carrying out the invention the plume, rosette, or tassel is constructed primarily of a strip, A, of Cotswold hide,77 tanned Vor cured in the usual man ner, with the wool or hair attached,which wool is left in its natural state, or is bleached, dyed, or colored, as desired, and to suit a multiplicity of tastes. The said prepared Cotswold wool is attached in any approved manner to an ornament, one form of which for harness is illustrated at B,

which ornament may be made of metal, horn,

guttapercha, leather, or equivalent, and may partake of an almost endless varietyof designs, one of which, representing a hanging tassel-head, is illustrated. The ornament may, however, consist of the rigid portion of a drooping upright plume or arosette, of which the Cotswold wool is adapted to constitute an ornamental pendant. Heretofore in this connection hemp or fringe of silk, cotton, or similar producthas beeny employed. The Cotswold wool not only makes a more graceful, durable,

and elegant ornament than the aforesaid material, but is much cheaper and more readily applied, as a small strip of skin bent upon 1tself longitudinally and sewed or otherwise at tached at the edges produces afull and magnicent pendant or plume capable of use not only for the purposes specitied in the preamble of this specification, but for sundry other purposes-such as dust-brushes'pro-` duced by the mere addition of a handle.

In the construction of the pendant ornament shown the strip of wool is cut in rectangular form and the longitudinal edges are brought together and united, as heretofore stated, by sewing or equivalent means, as shown in Fig. 3. In one end of the tubular body C thus formed the enlarged end of a link, D, is inserted, and the said body is sewed or otherwise secured in engagement with the said link at the abovementioned enlarged end, the other end of the link being unattached and made to project outward from the body, as illustrated in Fig. 4. An ornamental or finishing cap, E, having a slot, e, in its closed end, is slid over the body C. The link D, passing through the said slot, is drawn outward until the end of the body secured thereto virtually en` gages the slotted end of the said cap, as also illustrated in Fig. 4. To the link D a hook, F, provided with a locking-ring, f, or any other approved forni of suspension device, is attached, the said hook being adapted lto engage the harness, as shown `in Fig. l, or other support and retain the complete tassel in engagement therewith or dependent therefrom.

I do not confine myself to the use of Cotswold wool exclusively, as Angora may be enr ployed with good effect, likewise any hide having long wool or hair upon the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

. 1. The combination herein described,with -V a cap or head support, of a strip of hide havheadsupport at one end,substnntiaily as shown cap E, having av slot, e, through which the eX- and described. posed end of the link passes, substantially as 2. A plume or tassel consisting ofthe tubuset forth.

lar body formed of a strip of hide united at its RALPH WV. E. ALDRIGH. 5 1ongitudda1edges,and having the hair or Wool Vitnesses:

on the outer side, the link D, passed partly J. F. ACKER, Jr.,

into said body and seoured thereto, and the: "WILLIAM E. BAINE. 

